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The objective of this study was to describe the dependence of textural properties (hardness, cohesiveness, and relative adhesiveness) of processed cheese spreads on the proportion of disodium phosphate (DSP), tetrasodium diphosphate (TSPP), and sodium salts of polyphosphate in ternary mixtures of emulsifying salts. Sodium salts of polyphosphate with different mean lengths (n ≈ 5, 9, 13, 20, and 28) were used. Pentasodium triphosphate (PSTP) was used instead of TSPP in the second part of the study. Products with and without pH adjustment were tested (the target pH value was 5.60-5.80). Textural properties of the processed cheese were observed after 2, 9, and 30 d of storage at 6°C. Hardness of the processed cheese with a low content of polyphosphate increased at a specific DSP:TSPP ratio (~1:1 to 3:4). This trend was the same for all the polyphosphates used; only the absolute values of texture parameters were different. The same trends were observed in the ternary mixtures with PSTP, showing lower final values of hardness compared with samples containing TSPP. Hardness and cohesiveness decreased and relative adhesiveness increased in the samples with increased pH values and vice versa; the main trend remained unchanged.

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Polymer-metal based material with unique 3D structure is an attractive substrate for the development of biomedical applications. A novel preparation of the composite from polymer fibres and silver nanoparticles has been designed through: (1) preparation of silver nanoparticles by phytosynthesis and (2) incorporation of these nanoparticles in a fibrous membrane prepared by electrospinning. The nanoparticle biosynthesis was performed in a pure environmental-friendly, easy, static, bottom-up in vitro regime using Tilia sp. leachate. TEM and XRD depict the formation, stabilisation and encapsulation of crystalline silver (14 ± 9 nm) nanoparticles (NPs) in one simple step with low tendency to aggregate. We achieved successful incorporation in the uniform electrospun 221 ± 24 nm poly(vinylalcohol) fibres, and this confirms the possibility of its use in the biomedical field. Both SEM with EDX and TEM analysis determined fibre uniformity with the presence of silver NPs, and ICP-AES confirmed the relatively similar metal concentration throughout the triplicate measurement of fibre structures on the 2 × 2 cm area in the following manner: 0.303 ± 0.018 wt. %, 0.282 ± 0.017 wt. %, and 0.281 ± 0.017 wt. %. Our hypothesis is based on previously verified preparation of active silver NPs and the easily prepared PVA electrospun fibres which act as a water soluble matrix. The simple methodology of incorporating biosynthetically prepared NPs in the PVA fibers highlights the effectiveness of this material, with simple release from water-soluble PVA and final activation of the prepared NPs.

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Herein, Tilia sp. bract leachate was used as the reducing agent for Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) phytosynthesis. The colloidal properties of the prepared Au NPs were determined to confirm their stability over time, and the NPs were then used as active catalysts in soman nerve agent degradation. The Au NPs characterisation, reproducibility and stability studies were performed under transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy and with ζ-potential measurements. The reaction kinetics was detected by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector and solid-phase micro-extraction to confirm the Au NPs applicability in soman hydrolysis. The ‘green’ phytosynthetic formation of colloidal crystalline Au NPs with dominant quasi-spherical shape and 55 ± 10 nm diameter was successfully achieved, and there were no significant differences in morphology, ζ-potential or absorbance values observed during the 5-week period. This verified the prepared colloids’ long-term stability. The soman nerve agent was degraded to non-toxic substances within 24 h, with 0.2156 h−1 reaction rate constant. These results confirmed bio-nanotechnology’s great potential in preparation of stable and functional nanocatalysts for degradation of hazardous substances, including chemical warfare agents.

This paper presents a new method of deposition of photocatalytic sorbent on nanofibers. This deposition uses controlled sublimation of water molecules from the vacuum-gel that is patent-protected. Silica gel nanostructures are precipitated by heterogeneous nucleation on the surface of nanofibres from an aqueous suspension of silicate nanoparticles and semiconductor carbon nitride (C3N4) or graphene nanosheets. After rapid solidification of gel (at least 104K/s), the nanofibers coated with the silica gel dispersion C3N4, or graphene are subjected to controlled sublimation at – 41 °C. This technology produced a nanofibrous material, which is stably coated with a highly porous silicate sorbent including dispersed photocatalytic nanoparticles. This textile material has a total sorption surface area of the order of hundreds m2/g. Unlike conventional sorbents, it is capable due to dispersed photocatalytic nanoparticles to regenerate sorption capacity by the absorption of visible light. The results of the preliminary research confirmed the high application potential of new controlled sublimation technology in the production of regenerable photocatalytic sorption fabrics.

Abstract. This paper presents a new method of deposition of photocatalytic sorbent on nanofibers. This deposition uses controlled sublimation of water molecules from the vacuum-gel that is patent-protected. Silica gel nanostructures are precipitated by heterogeneous nucleation on the surface of nanofibres from an aqueous suspension of silicate nanoparticles and semiconductor carbon nitride (C 3 N 4 ) or graphene nanosheets. After rapid solidification of gel (at least 10 4 K/s), the nanofibers coated with the silica gel dispersion C 3 N 4 , or graphene are subjected to controlled sublimation at -41 o C. This technology produced a nanofibrous material, which is stably coated with a highly porous silicate sorbent including dispersed photocatalytic nanoparticles. This textile material has a total sorption surface area of the order of hundreds m 2 /g. Unlike conventional sorbents, it is capable due to dispersed photocatalytic nanoparticles to regenerate sorption capacity by the absorption of visible light. The results of the preliminary research confirmed the high application potential of new controlled sublimation technology in the production of regenerable photocatalytic sorption fabrics.